Wake Forest Defeats Clemson 85-77

Demon Deacons race to big first-half lead and hold on for victory

Feb. 23, 2026 at 8:47pm

Wake Forest jumped out to an early lead and never let Clemson catch up, defeating the Tigers 85-77 on Wednesday night. The Demon Deacons raced to a 45-32 halftime advantage and held on for the victory.

Why it matters

This ACC matchup between two top-tier college basketball programs is an important conference game that could impact the standings and tournament seeding for both teams as the season winds down.

The details

Wake Forest came out firing on all cylinders, building a big first-half lead that Clemson was unable to overcome despite a second-half push. The Demon Deacons' strong start and ability to maintain their advantage throughout the game proved to be the difference.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • Wake Forest led 45-32 at halftime.

The players

Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons are a Division I college basketball team that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Clemson

The Tigers are a Division I college basketball team that also competes in the ACC.

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The takeaway

This victory gives Wake Forest an important conference win and keeps them in the hunt for a high seed in the upcoming ACC tournament, while Clemson will need to regroup and try to bounce back in their next game.